Raymond Burnier

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Raymond Burnier

Raymond Burnier (1912-1968) was a Swiss photographer born in Lausanne.[1]

Early life[edit]

Burnier was born in a wealthy Swiss family, his grandfather was among the inventor of the condensed milk, later commercialized by Nestle. Most of his childhood was spent in a farm in Algeria.[2][3]

Career[edit]

Burnier was very passionate about photography. He traveled to China, Japan, Indonesia, Afghanistan, the United States to finally settle in India in 1938.[1]

A follower of the Leica, he was interested in Hindu sculpture from the medieval period (9th to 14th centuries).[1] He revealed the beauty of the great temples of Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Bhubaneswar and Konark Sun Temple.[1] He became a member of the Indian archaeological services and photographed a large number of sites and temples in central India.[1]

Influenced by the work of Cecil Beaton (that he receives in India), he inspired photographer Angelo Frontoni (it) (1929-2002).[4][1]

Personal life[edit]

In 1931 in Cote D'Azur he met Alain Danielou who would remain his lifelong companion, even if in the middle of their relationship Burnier married Radha Sri Ram.[5][6]

Exhibitions[edit]

  • Center Alain Daniélou, Zagarolo, Rome (more than 8,000 negatives realized between 1935 and 1955).
  • In 1949 he was the first photographer exhibited at Museum of Modern Art, New York (prints made by Burnier)[7]
  • Museum of the Elysee, Lausanne.

Works[edit]

  • Burnier illustrated several works by Alain Daniélou: L'Erotisme Divinisé, The Hindu Temple: Deification of Eroticism, Visages de l'Inde médiévale, L'Inde traditionnelle. Photographies, 1935-1955.
  • Exploring India's Sacred Art: Selected Writings of Stella Kramrisch
  • Alain Daniélou and Raymond Burnier, Faces of medieval India, Paris, Hermann, 1985, 79 original photographs

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Raymond Burnier". 8 December 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  2. ^ Aldrich, Robert (2008). Colonialism and Homosexuality. Routledge. p. 600. ISBN 9781134644599. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  3. ^ Lardinois, Roland (2017). Scholars and Prophets: Sociology of India from France in the 19th-20th Centuries. Taylor & Francis. p. 253. ISBN 9781351403610. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Angelo Frontoni". stsenzatitolo.com. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Her heart and soul were given to Theosophy". The Hindu. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Radha Burnier". Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  7. ^ "The 28th Annual Exhibition of Advertising and Editorial Art of the New York Art Directors Club". Retrieved 29 September 2017.